Film Fest Gent - Videodroom 2025: Nietzchka Keene, The Juniper Tree

Rediscover a cinematic masterpiece at Film Fest Gent’s VIDEODROOM 2025 with a breathtaking new score for Nietzchka Keene’s *The Juniper Tree*. This hauntingly beautiful film, a hidden gem of European arthouse cinema, marks the acclaimed acting debut of Björk and showcases the singular vision of the late director Nietzchka Keene, a talent only now receiving the recognition she deserves. Set in medieval Iceland, *The Juniper Tree* tells the dark fairy tale of sisters Margit (Björk) and Katla, fleeing after their mother’s execution for witchcraft. Finding refuge with a widower and his son, their lives are shadowed by mounting tension as Katla’s mysterious powers begin to emerge. Shot entirely on location amidst Iceland’s stark and unforgettable landscapes, and captured in evocative black and white, the film’s visual intensity echoes the works of Dreyer and Bergman. Interwoven with dreamlike sequences by experimental filmmaker Pat O’Neill, *The Juniper Tree* is a powerful and enduring allegory of misogyny and its consequences. For this special presentation, celebrated Japanese composer Midori Hirano, based in Berlin, has created an entirely new score, honoring Keene’s remarkable film and adding a layer of ethereal beauty to its already captivating atmosphere. Hirano’s distinctive style blends classical piano and strings with experimental textures, subtle electronics, and evocative field recordings, resulting in a soundscape as fragile and powerful as the film itself. As Hirano notes, "The film shows many raw aspects of human nature…the exciting challenge for me is to incorporate that fragility in the music while keeping its strength.” Don’t miss this long-overdue rediscovery, presented as part of Film Fest Gent's VIDEODROOM 2025.